Adjustable putter grip

ABSTRACT

Provided is an adjustable putter grip. The adjustable putter grip includes a first grip member coupled adjacent a first end of a putter shaft. A putter head is coupled to a second end of the putter shaft. The adjustable putter grip also includes a second grip member coupled to the putter shaft between the first grip member and the second end of the putter shaft. The first grip member and the second grip member are rotatable with respect to each other to adjust grip position, the second grip member is rotatable with respect to the first grip member to adjust grip position, or the first grip member is rotatable with respect to the second grip member to adjust grip position. A method of forming a custom grip or custom fitting of a golfer is also disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[S]

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Applicationentitled “PUTTER GRIP,” Ser. No. 62/618,906, filed Jan. 18, 2018, thedisclosure of which is hereby incorporated entirely herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Technical Field

This invention relates generally to a golf putter grip and moreparticularly to a putter with an adjustable grip (“FlexPutt”).

State of the Art

There are numerous types of grips that can be installed on a putter.While conventional putter grips have different sizes and shapes, theyare all maintained in a fixed position on the shaft of a putterrequiring a fixed parallel grip. These conventional putter grips do notallow for any modification to the grip to adjust for anatomicalvariances by having variable grip positions that are more natural toenable the golfer to have a more comfortable and better swing of theputter. With these conventional putter grips, the golfer must adjust hisor her holding of the straight putter grip without being able toaccommodate their unique hand angle orientation.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved putter grip that isadjustable to account for anatomical variances in golfers.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an adjustable putter grip for amultitude of custom grip positions for every golfer. This inventionallows the golfer to adjust the orientation of the grip to allow theeither hand to pronate or supinate as desired. Splitting of the gripallows changing the orientation of the hands. The invention furtherprovides for an anatomically, ergonomically adjustable putter grip.Variability of grip accommodates a wide spectrum of anatomicalvariations in human arms, wrists and hands.

An embodiment includes an adjustable putter grip comprising: a firstgrip member removably coupled adjacent a first end of a putter shaft,wherein a putter head is coupled to a second end of the putter shaft; asecond grip member removably coupled to the putter shaft between thefirst grip member and the second end of the putter shaft, wherein thefirst grip member and the second grip member are independently rotatablewith respect to each other; and a securing device for securing the firstgrip member and the second grip member in a desired orientation.

Another embodiment includes a first grip member coupled adjacent a firstend of a putter shaft, wherein a putter head is coupled to a second endof the putter shaft; a second grip member coupled to the putter shaftbetween the first grip member and the second end of the putter shaft,wherein an orientation of the first grip member with respect to thesecond grip member is adjustable to adjust a grip position; and asecuring device for securing the first grip member and the second gripmember in a desired orientation.

Further, another embodiment includes an adjustable putter gripcomprising: a first grip member coupled adjacent a first end of a puttershaft, wherein a putter head is coupled to a second end of the puttershaft; and a second grip member coupled to the putter shaft between thefirst grip member and the second end of the putter shaft, wherein thefirst grip member is rotatable with respect to the second grip member toadjust grip position.

An embodiment includes a method of use of an adjustable grip for forminga custom grip, the method comprising: independently pronating orsupinating portions of a putter grip in a desired position for holdingby a golfer's hands; forming a customized grip corresponding to thedesired position of the first and second grip members; and maintainingthe custom grip on a shaft of a putter.

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present inventionwill be apparent from the following more detailed description of theparticular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present invention may be derived byreferring to the detailed description and claims when considered inconnection with the Figures, wherein like reference numbers refer tosimilar items throughout the Figures, and:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a neutral grip position of a golfer'shands on a putter grip according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a grip position of a golfer's hands on aputter grip with the left hand pronated according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a grip position of a golfer's hands on aputter grip with the right hand pronated according to an embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a grip position of a golfer's hands on aputter grip with the right and left hands supinated according to anembodiment;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a putter with an adjustable putter gripaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 6A is a top view of a putter with an adjustable putter gripaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 6B is another top view of a putter with an adjustable putter gripaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 6C is yet another top view of a putter with an adjustable puttergrip according to an embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a putter shaft with the putter gripmembers adjusting according to an embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of an adjustable putter grip according to anembodiment;

FIG. 9 is an exploded view of an adjustable putter grip according toanother embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram representing steps of a method of use of anadjustable putter grip;

FIG. 11A is a perspective view of an adjustable putter grip according toan embodiment;

FIG. 11B is a perspective view of an adjustable putter grip according toan embodiment;

FIG. 11C is another perspective view of an adjustable putter gripaccording to an embodiment;

FIG. 11D is a further perspective view of an adjustable putter gripaccording to an embodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an adjustable putter grip with theouter grip member see through to see optional inner components accordingto an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

As discussed above, embodiments of the present invention relate to anadjustable putter grip for adjusting grip position. This inventionallows each hand to have a different orientation to the putter shaft.Splitting of the grip allows changing the orientation of the hands. Theinvention further provides for an anatomically, ergonomically adjustableputter grip. Variability of grip accommodates all human hands.

In order to adjust grip position on a conventional putter grip, a golferneeds to rotate his or her hand to a different position on the puttergrip, resulting in the palm or other parts of the hand to be removed orlack proper contact with the putter grip. For example, FIG. 1 is a topperspective view of a typical neutral grip position of a golfer's handson a putter grip. FIG. 2 illustrates a grip position of a golfer's handson a putter grip, wherein the left hand pronated in a clockwisedirection with respect to the right hand held in a neutral position. Itwill be understood that as shown in FIG. 2 the left hand may be pronatedor supinated with the right hand held neutral. FIG. 3 illustrates a gripposition of a golfer's hands on a putter grip, wherein the right hand ispronated in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the left handheld in a neutral position. It will be understood that as shown in FIG.3 the right hand may be pronated or supinated with left hand heldneutral. FIG. 4 depicts another grip wherein the grip is customized forthe golfer by the right and left hand having the ability to beindependently pronated and supinated in order to account for anatomicalvariances of different golfers. The above examples are not intended tobe limiting as to the possible grip positions and orientations of agolfer's hands on a putter grip.

Embodiments of the adjustable putter grip allow a user to adjust theputter grip to positions and orientations to allow the golfer to rotatethe grip position of a hand independent from the grip position of theother hand to allow for a rotated or twisted grip position while stillmaintaining contact with the putter grip with the typical parts of thegolfer's hands, such as the palm. In other words, the golfer mayindependently pronate or supinate each hand and adjust the putter gripto match the hand position.

Embodiments, as depicted in FIG. 5 include a putter 10 with anadjustable putter grip 12 having a first grip member 14 and a secondgrip member 16. Embodiments of the putter grip 12 allow for a variety ofadvanced hand positions for the putter stroke. This is generallyaccomplished through a variable position grip assembly 12 surroundingthe putter shaft 18. The grip 12 is split into a first grip member 14and a second grip member 16. In embodiments one grip member 14 or 16 mayrotate while the other remains stationary, while in other embodiments,each grip member 14 and 16 may be selectively rotated relative to oneanother around the shaft 18 to orient in particular locations thatenable the golfer to grasp the putter in an optimal and consistentmanner. The adjustable putter grip 12 may include a securing device tosecure or lock the first and second grip members 14 and 16 into thedesired or selected orientation. The result is that the putter head 20will more likely strike a golf ball at a substantially consistent angleduring successive strokes.

In some embodiments depicted in FIGS. 7-9, the first and second gripmembers 14 and 16 are connected to each other and to the shaft 18 byteeth of respective spline sets that can easily be moved betweendetached and locked engagements. In these embodiments, the shaft and thegrip members 14 and 16 may be separated from each other and thenconnected using the teeth to respective spline sets to orient the firstand second grip members 14 and 16 in the user-defined orientation. Theease of detaching and altering the grip allows any user to customize hisor her grip on the fly or at any time to accommodate the wrist angle thegolfer finds most comfortable or consistent so that the putter head 20will strike the golf ball at a generally consistent angle duringsuccessive strokes.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8, the first grip member 14comprises a male splined protrusion 52 and the second grip member 16comprises a female splined recess 54, such that the male splinedprotrusion 52 and the female splined recess 54 may engage each other toprevent the first grip member 14 from rotating with respect to thesecond grip member 16. In some embodiments, the second grip member 16comprises a male splined protrusion that may engage a female splinedrecess of the first grip member 14. The splines shown in FIG. 8 is anembodiment of the securing device.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 9, the first and second gripmembers 14 and 16 each comprise a splined end surface 56, such that thesplined end surfaces 56 of the first and second grip members 14 and 16may engage each other to prevent the first grip member 14 from rotatingwith respect to the second grip member 16.

In some embodiments shown in FIGS. 7-9, the putter shaft 18 comprises aspline set 50 having teeth that extend radially outward from the surfacethereof. The first grip member 14 comprises a female splined recess 54and the second grip member 16 comprises a splined aperture extendinglengthwise through the second grip member, the female splined recess 54and the splined aperture each having teeth 48 that extend radiallyinward from the inner surfaces thereof and engage the spline set 50 ofthe putter shaft when the first grip member 14 and second grip member 16are coupled, either removably or permanently, to the putter shaft 18,such that the first grip member 14 and the second grip member 16 areprevented from rotating relative to the putter shaft 18. The splinesshown in FIGS. 7-9 are embodiments of the securing device.

Although the teeth 48 of the spline sets 50 shown in FIGS. 7-9 are ofsubstantially triangular shape, this is not intended to be limiting. Theteeth 48 of the spline sets 50 may be of any suitable shape, such assubstantially rectangular, fluted, or of any other shape that issuitable for use as teeth of a spline set. Further, the teeth 48 of aspline set 50 may be any protrusions of any shape that are suitable toengage any recesses of a corresponding spline set 50 of correspondingshape known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first grip member 14 is coupled adjacent a firstend 22 of a putter shaft 18, wherein the putter head 20 is coupled tothe second end 24 of the putter shaft 18. The second grip member 14 iscoupled to the putter shaft 18 between the first grip member 14 and thesecond end 24 of the putter shaft 18. The first grip member 14 and/orthe second grip member 16 may rotate about the shaft 18 in eitherdirection as depicted by arrows 26 and 28 respectively. By so doing, theuser can adjust the grip position of each hand independently.

Embodiments may include a locking collar 70 (See FIG. 5) that surroundsthe shaft 18 and slides axially along the shaft 16 into engagement withthe grip assembly 12 to prevent the rotation of the first and secondgrip members 14 and 16 around the shaft 18 while putting. The lockingcollar 70 is an embodiment of the securing device and may be locked orsecured in a locked position by any means suitable to secure a gripmember to a putter shaft, such as by a set pin, a set screw, a lock pin,a clamping lever, a threaded nut, an axial clamp, and the like. Further,this becomes a partial equipment answer to having the hands of a userfeel more comfortable. Further still, embodiments allow the golfer topronate or supinate his or her hands in matching symmetry and furtherallows the golfer to pronate or supinate his or her hands independentlyto account for anatomical variances between each golfer.

In some embodiments, the first and second grip members 14 and 16 eachcomprise a locking collar 70 that may be coupled to or which forms anintegral part of the grip member. The locking collar 70 may be locked orsecured in a locked position by any means suitable to secure the gripmember to a putter shaft, such as by a set pin, a set screw, a lock pin,a clamping lever, a threaded nut, an axial clamp, and the like, suchthat a user may easily adjust the orientation of each grip memberindependently on the fly, or at any time, by unlocking the lockingcollar 70, turning the grip member to the desired orientation, and thenlocking the locking collar 70.

It will be understood that while splines and a locking collar are shownas embodiments of a securing device, other securing devices may be used.Accordingly, any type of securing device may be used so long as thesecuring device secures the first and second grip members 14 and 16 inthe desired orientation.

In embodiments, the shaft of the club could also move by itself or thegrip members can move independently around the shaft. Grip members mayalso not move at all, wherein the manufacturer may apply the gripmembers to the shaft at the desired orientations. Other embodiments, asdiscussed above, may be adjusted either by a user or by a factory beforesale.

Embodiments may be available on or through the internet, such as throughdomain names reserved and owned by Applicant that include flexputt.com,adjustablegrips.com, freehandgolf.com, freehandgrip.com, freeputt.com,freehandputting.com, or the like.

Accordingly, the components defining any adjustable putter grip may beformed of any of many different types of materials or combinationsthereof that can readily be formed into shaped objects provided that thecomponents selected are consistent with the intended operation of anadjustable putter grip. For example, the components may be formed of:rubbers (synthetic and/or natural) and/or other like materials; glasses(such as fiberglass) carbon-fiber, aramid-fiber, any combinationthereof, and/or other like materials; polymers such as thermoplastics(such as ABS, Fluoropolymers, Polyacetal, Polyamide; Polycarbonate,Polyethylene, Polysulfone, and/or the like), thermosets (such as Epoxy,Phenolic Resin, Polyimide, Polyurethane, Silicone, and/or the like), anycombination thereof, and/or other like materials; composites and/orother like materials; metals, such as zinc, magnesium, titanium, copper,iron, steel, carbon steel, alloy steel, tool steel, stainless steel,aluminum, any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; alloys,such as aluminum alloy, titanium alloy, magnesium alloy, copper alloy,any combination thereof, and/or other like materials; any other suitablematerial; and/or any combination thereof.

Furthermore, the components defining any adjustable putter grip may bepurchased pre-manufactured or manufactured separately and then assembledtogether. However, any or all of the components may be manufacturedsimultaneously and integrally joined with one another. Manufacture ofthese components separately or simultaneously may involve extrusion,pultrusion, vacuum forming, injection molding, blow molding, resintransfer molding, casting, forging, cold rolling, milling, drilling,reaming, turning, grinding, stamping, cutting, bending, welding,soldering, hardening, riveting, punching, plating, and/or the like. Ifany of the components are manufactured separately, they may then becoupled with one another in any manner, such as with adhesive, a weld, afastener (e.g. a bolt, a nut, a screw, a nail, a rivet, a pin, and/orthe like), wiring, any combination thereof, and/or the like for example,depending on, among other considerations, the particular materialforming the components. Other possible steps might include sandblasting, polishing, powder coating, zinc plating, anodizing, hardanodizing, and/or painting the components for example.

Referring to FIG. 10, a block diagram of a method 60 of use of anadjustable putter grip is depicted. The method 60 comprises adjusting agrip position of a first grip member and a second grip member coupled toa putter shaft of a putter in response to adjusting an orientation ofthe first grip with respect to the second grip (Step 62); releasablysecuring the orientation of the first grip with respect to the secondgrip (Step 64); and maintaining the orientation of the first grip withrespect to the second grip during use of the putter (Step 66).

Step 62 of adjusting the orientation of the first grip member withrespect to the second grip member may further include rotation of firstgrip member and the second grip member about the putter shaft.Alternatively, Step 62 of adjusting the orientation of the first gripmember with respect to the second grip member may include rotation ofthe first grip member about the putter shaft while the second gripmember is fixed to the putter shaft. Alternatively, Step 62 of adjustingthe orientation of the first grip member with respect to the second gripmember may include rotation of the second grip member about the puttershaft while the first grip member is fixed to the putter shaft.

The securing of the orientation of the first grip member with respect tothe second grip member in Step 64 may include any useable securingmeans, such as that described above with regard to splines or lockingcollars. Other means and devices are contemplated without departing fromthe scope of the present invention.

According to embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 11A-11D, a method of forminga custom grip or custom fitting of a golfer is provided. The method mayinclude independently pronating or supinating portions of a putter gripin a desired position for holding by the golfer's hands; forming acustomized single grip corresponding to the desired position of thegolfer's hands; and maintaining a fixed customized grip on a shaft of aputter. In these embodiments, either hand may be held in a neutralposition while the other hand is pronated or supinated or in anotherembodiment both hands may be pronated and supinated independently andsimultaneously. In at least this way, embodiments of the invention maybe used for custom adjustments or fitting.

Independently pronating and supinating portions of the putter grip mayinclude one of the golfer rotating a first portion 14 and a secondportion 16 of the putter grip 12 in any direction displayed by arrows 26and 28 respectively, with a twist point 17 located between the first andsecond portions 14 and 16 (see FIGS. 11A-11B); the golfer rotating afirst portion 14 in any direction displayed by arrow 26 while a secondportion 16 is held in a neutral position, with a twist point 17 locatedbetween the first and second portions 14 and 16 (see FIG. 11C); or thegolfer rotating a second portion 16 in any direction displayed by arrow28 while a first portion 14 is held in a neutral position, with a twistpoint 17 located between the first and second portions 14 and 16 (seeFIG. 11D), such that the first and second portions of the grip 12 arepositioned in a golfer determine position at customized angles ofrotation. The putter grip 12 may include a unitary grip cover 19 withmalleable material interior to the unitary grip cover 19 to form thefirst and second grip members 14 and 16. Once the golfer determines theangles of the first and second putter grip members 14 and 16, they mayset or otherwise secured in the golfer defined position as a way offorming the customized grip. In some embodiment, the customized gripincludes fixing the first and second grip members 14 and 16 in aconfiguration wherein they cannot be moved again.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 12, the first and second members14 and 16 may be structural elements, as discussed with respect to FIGS.1-9, within the grip cover 19. The putter grip 12 may then be maintainedon the putter shaft 18 for the golfer to utilize during putting. In someembodiment, the customized grip includes fixing the first and secondgrip members 14 and 16 in a configuration wherein they cannot be movedagain.

It should be appreciated that in all embodiments of the presentinvention, the putter shaft 18 at all times is maintained in a straightconfiguration and is not bent or twisted in any way, and embodiments aredirected to the inventive putter grip only.

The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order tobest explain the present invention and its practical application and tothereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use theinvention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognizethat the foregoing description and examples have been presented for thepurposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forthis not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to theprecise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possiblein light of the teachings above without departing from the spirit andscope of the forthcoming claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An adjustable putter grip comprising: afirst grip member coupled adjacent a first end of a putter shaft,wherein a putter head is coupled to a second end of the putter shaft; asecond grip member coupled to the putter shaft in a fixed positionbetween the first grip member and the second end of the putter shaft,wherein an orientation of the first grip member with respect to thesecond grip member is adjustable to adjust a grip position; and asecuring device for securing the first grip member and the second gripmember in a desired orientation, wherein the securing device includesthe first grip member comprises a first portion of the securing deviceand the second grip member comprises a second portion of the securingdevice, wherein the first portion of the securing device engages anddisengages the second portion of the securing device to maintain theorientation of the first grip member with respect to the second gripmember when engaged and allow rotation of the first grip member aboutthe putter shaft when disengaged while the second grip member ismaintained in the fixed position on the putter shaft.
 2. The adjustableputter grip of claim 1, wherein the securing device includes the firstgrip member comprises a plurality of first splines and the second gripmember comprises a plurality of second splines, wherein the plurality offirst splines engages and disengages the plurality of second splines. 3.The adjustable putter grip of claim 1, wherein the first grip member andthe putter shaft each comprise a plurality of splines, wherein theplurality of splines of the first grip member engage the plurality ofsplines of the putter shaft to maintain the orientation of the firstgrip member with respect to the putter shaft.
 4. An adjustable puttergrip comprising: a first grip member coupled adjacent a first end of aputter shaft in a fixed position, wherein a putter head is coupled to asecond end of the putter shaft; a second grip member coupled to theputter shaft between the first grip member and the second end of theputter shaft, wherein an orientation of the first grip member withrespect to the second grip member is adjustable to adjust a gripposition; and a securing device for securing the first grip member andthe second grip member in a desired orientation, wherein the securingdevice includes the first grip member comprises a first portion of thesecuring device and the second grip member comprises a second portion ofthe securing device, wherein the first portion of the securing deviceengages and disengages the second portion of the securing device tomaintain the orientation of the first grip member with respect to thesecond grip member when engaged and allow rotation of the second gripmember about the putter shaft when disengaged while the first gripmember is maintained in the fixed position on the putter shaft.
 5. Theadjustable putter grip of claim 4, wherein the securing device includesthe first grip member comprises a plurality of first splines and thesecond grip member comprises a plurality of second splines, wherein theplurality of first splines engages and disengages the plurality ofsecond splines.
 6. The adjustable putter grip of claim 4, wherein thesecond grip member and the putter shaft each comprise a plurality ofsplines, wherein the plurality of splines of the second grip memberengage the plurality of splines of the putter shaft to maintain theorientation of the second grip member with respect to the putter shaft.